Government class
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chapter1.pptxCengage Advantage Books: American Government and Politics Today, Brief Ed. 2012-2013
Chapter One:
The Democratic Republic
Government 100-75: Modern Government in the American Context
Dr. David May
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Politics and Government
Politics is the struggle over power and influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant benefits and privileges.
Politics occurs in many areas of life: church, schools, social groups even families.
Government is an institution that performs certain functions for society.
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Why Is Government Necessary?
The Need for Security
Afghanistan
Limiting Government Power
Liberty
Authority and Legitimacy
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3
Democracy and Other Forms of Government
Types of Government
Totalitarian
Authoritarian
Aristocracy
Theocracy
Oligarchy
Democracy
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4
Democracy and Other Forms of Government
Direct Democracy
Based on consent of the people.
Examples of Direct Democracy in the U.S.
Initiative
Referendum
Recall
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Dangers of Direct Democracy
The Founders believed in government based on the consent of the people but were highly distrustful of anything that might look like “mob rule.”
The Founders created institutions to filter the will of the people through elected officials.
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A Democratic Republic
A republic in which representatives elected by the people make and enforce laws and policy
Based on popular sovereignty
United States is considered a democratic republic
Gave rise to the term representative democracy.
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7
A Democratic Republic
Principles of Democratic Government
Universal suffrage
Majority rule but with minority rights
Free and competitive elections
Constitutional Democracy
Limited government
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8
What Type of Democracy Do We Have?
Theories of American Government
Majoritarianism
Elite Theory
Pluralism
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Fundamental Values of American Democracy
Political culture is a patterned set of values and way of thinking about government and politics.
Political socialization is the process by which political beliefs and values are transmitted to immigrants and children.
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Fundamental Values of American Democracy
Liberty versus Order
Civil liberties and the Bill of Rights
When Americans are fearful or vulnerable, government officials emphasize national security over civil liberties.
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Fundamental Values of American Democracy
Equality versus Liberty
Equal opportunity
Economic equality
Property rights and capitalism
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Fundamental Values of American Democracy
The Proper Size of Government
Big government in times of crisis
Big government and the Great Recession
The limits of big government
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Political Ideologies
Conservatism
Places high value on the principles of order and liberty
Advocates limited governmental role in helping individuals
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Political Ideologies
Liberalism
Advocacy of government action to improve the welfare of individuals
Support for civil rights and tolerance for social and political change
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15
The Traditional Political Spectrum
Socialism
Favors strong support for social and economic equality
Traditionally socialists envisioned a society in which major businesses were taken over by government or by employee cooperatives.
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The Traditional Political Spectrum
Libertarianism
Philosophy of skepticism towards most government activities
Strongly support property rights
Oppose regulation of the economy and redistribution of income
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The Traditional Political Spectrum
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A Four Cornered Ideological Grid
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